Exercise, Education Might Reduce Alzheimer's, Researchers Say

The reason that mentally and physically active people tend to have less Alzheimer's disease might be that education and exercise supercharge a broad set of genes involved in building a healthier brain, University of Chicago researchers reported Thursday.

Other scientists have reported on one or two genes activated with exercise. But this study is the first to find that an enriched environment -- which includes learning and physical activity -- increased the output of 41 genes in mice.

The genes are involved in maintaining the health of neurons, constructing synaptic connections between them as new memories are laid down and building arterial highways to supply more blood and nutrients to the brain.

The findings open a new avenue of research designed to discover how exactly physical and mental exercise promotes enhanced activity of important brain genes. Discoveries could lead to anti-Alzheimer's drugs. The study also supports the growing belief that prevention strategies work.

"Anything that keeps the mind active is going to be healthful," said Sangram Sisodia, director of the university's center for molecular biology. "The mind-body connection is a very important one. The brain can be restructured by increasing physical activity."

Bill Thies, vice president for medical and scientific affairs for the Alzheimer's Association, agreed. "The study is important because it has created a biological explanation for very broad epidemiological observations about education and active lifestyle being related to less Alzheimer's disease," he said. "Staying active is going to be critical to remaining as functional as possible." *